y^^^d.  ^zii-  r-'^^^^.^<^A^/^-^^u-^- 


AN 


ADDRE8S 


DELIVEKED  BEFORE  THB 


READFIELD  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY, 


AT  THEIR  FIRST  ANNIVERSARY, 


July  4,  1832. 


BY    MERRITT    CALDWELL.    ESQ., 

Principal  of  the  Maine  Wesleyan  Seminary. 


rUBLISHCS  BY  HEfiUEST  OT  THE  SOCIETY. 


HALLOWELL : 

Advocate    Offici. 

1832. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/addressdeliveredOOcaldiala 


^-  63Sn<3- 


ADDRESS 


— Q€^ 


I  DO  not  appear  before  you,  this  day,  at  my  ov.u  soli- 
citation or  request.  Had  I  seized  my  pen  to  beguile  the 
hours  that  were  lian^ing  heavily  on  my  bands,  another 
subject  would  have  claimed  my  attention — one  on  -wiiich 
the  mind  could  have  lingered  with  emotions  of  pleasure, 
and  which  would  have  presented  the  fancy  with  some 
images  beside  those  of  woe.  Had  the  love  of  display 
been  the  predominant  feeling  of  my  mind,  I  would  also, 
in  that  case,  have  sought  out  for  the  occasion  another 
subject  than  that  which  we  novr  propose  to  discuss.  In 
the  drama  of  life,  whatever  may  he  the  sentiment  of  the 
misanthrope,  there  is  now  and  then  acted  a  scene  of 
pleasantness.  The  mind  recurs  back  wit^j  feelings  of 
the  highest  satisfaction,  and  in  the  contemplirtion  of  them, 
there  springs  up  in  the  bosom  a  feeling  of  playful  de- 
light, whether  the  imagination  rests  on  the  plot  of  the 
scene,  or  the  actors  by  whom  it  has  been  presented. 
Many  of  the  scenes  connected  with  the  day  we  now  cel- 
ebrate are  of  this  description.  To  others,  hov>ever,  we 
leave  the  pleasant  task  of  numbering  them  over,  and  of 
joining  their  voices  in  mutual  gratulation.  We  have  as- 
sumed to  ourselves  a  graver  task  ;  and  the  scenes  which 
we  associate  with  the  object  of  our  present  assembling 
together,  have  no  affinity  to  these.  The  feeling  of  ro- 
mantic gaycty,  or  self-complacent  pride,  caw  here  find 
no  place  on  which  to  rest.  Intemperance  is  an  unwel- 
come theme. 

Unwelcome  however  as  is  the  theme,  unpleasant  as 
are  the  emotions  to  which  the  contemplation  of  it  gives 
rise,  and  diverse  as  may  be  tlie  sentiments  entertained 
on  the  subject,  by  thaindividuals  composing  this  audi- 
ence ;  still,  it  becomes  me,  called  as  I  have  been,  to  ad- 
dress yon  on  this  occasion,  to  speak  plainly  and  fear- 


lessly  the  sentiments  I  entertain  in  relation  to  it.  In 
doing  this  however,  I  pledge  myself  to  he  candid  and 
respectful ;  and  I  ask,  as  the  only  favor  I  have  a  right  to 
claim,  the  candid  attention  of  all  who  have  come  in  here. 

Tliis  day  is  one,  which  the  American  of  true  patriotism 
can  never  meet  hut  with  feelings  of  pride.  On  no  other 
occasion  does  he  feel,  as  on  tliis,  the  gratitude  he  owes 
to  his  fathers,  for  the  rich  inheritance  they  have  commit- 
ted to  their  vsons.  On  no  other  occasion  does  he  set  so 
high  a  value  on  the  blessings  of  liberty,  nor  feel  willing 
to  sacrifice  more  for  its  support.  On  no  other  occasion 
does  he  cherish  a  more  ardent  love  for  his  country  and  its 
institutions.  The  Duties  of  an  Jlmerican  Citizen ^  the 
subject  which  I  propose  partially  to  consider,  will  not, 
then,  seem  inappropriate  to  the  present  occasion. 

Were  we  to  seek  for  examples  of  high  traits  of  char- 
acter, worthy  of  imitation — for  models  of  excellence 
which  we  might  be  proud  to  copy,  where  should  we  find 
them,  if  not  in  our  own  country,  or  in  connection  with 
our  own  history  ?  1  need  not  speak  of  the  eloquence  of 
Henry,  directed  to  the  support  of  a  cause  which  as  yet 
Avas  unpopular.  I  need  not  point  to  him,  while  as  yet 
the  spirit  of  revolution  had  not  gone  forth,  boldly  stand- 
ing up  in  defence  of  the  cause  of  nature  and  of  truth, 
even  Avhile  treason  was  heard  to  echo  from  every  part  of 
the  house.  I  need  not  allude  to  the  almost  unprece- 
dented sacrifice  of  La  Fayette,  and  a  host  of  our  revolu- 
tionary worthies,  while  as  ^''et  all  was  uncertain,  whether 
success  would  make  them  patriots  and  crown  them  w  ith 
honor,  or  whether  failure  would  brand  them  as  rebels 
and  the  ambitious  leaders  of  an  insurrection.  I  need 
not  allude  to  the  voluntary  sacrifice  of  New  York,  Dela- 
ware, North  Carolina,  or  Georgia,  in  submitting  to  the 
restrictions  imposed  on  the  trade  of  the  other  colonies 
and  spurning  the  exemption  projQTered  to  them  by  the 
British  Parliament,  as  a  low  and  insidious  artifice  to 
reconcile  them  to  wliat  might  by  and  by  grow  to  a  great 
and  fearful  evil,  even  though  it  then  seemed  but  as  a 
grain  of  mustard  seed.  Neither  need  I  mention  the 
sacrifices  not  only  voluntarily  but  cheerfully  made  on  the 
part  of  the  thousands  composing  our  colonies,  in  depriv- 
ing themselves  of  almost  every  article  of  luxury,  rather 
than  to  recognize  the  principle,  that  Great  Britain  should 


in  any  form  violate  the  rights,  which  were  considered  by 
them  unalienably  theirs. 

But  where  are  the  spirits  of  our  Revolution  ?  Where 
now  are  those  who  are  willing  to  sacrifice  their  temporary 
popularity,  their  private  gain,  their  love  of  present  grati- 
fication, for  the  public  good  ?  I  need  not  say  that  the 
time  has  not  gone  by,  when  our  country  requires  these 
sacrifices  at  the  hands  of  her  citizens.  It  will  not  be 
deemed  irrelevant  to  the  occasion,  to  say,  that  the  scenes 
which  rise  in  prospect  before  us,  as  American  citizens, 
will  call  for  the  exercise  of  the  highest  virtues.  The 
elements  of  moral  commotion  are  already  at  work  in  our 
country,  and  the  signs  of  the  times  admonish  us  of  the 
approach  of  fearful  political  evils.  How  shall  their  ap- 
proach be  prevented,  or  their  influence  counteracted,  but 
by  the  diirusion  of  general  intelligence,  by  elevating  the 
standard  of  virtue,  and  by  impressing  upon  the  minds  of 
the  rising  community  those  high  notions  of  true  glory, 
which  aloue  arc  the  safeguard  of  a  republican  govern- 
ment ? 

I  will  not  speak  lightly  of  the  virtue  or  integrity, 
which,  even  now,  are  seen  in  our  country.  Indeed  I  do 
not  believe  we  have  much  occasion  for  present  fear. 
When  our  Country  shall  have  come  to  the  point  which 
threatens  her  ruin — when  she  shall  have  come  to  the 
verge  of  the  precipice  to  which  she  now  seems  advanc- 
ing, then  shall  the  spirit  of  patriotism  rise  above  that  of 
self  or  party,  and  by  her  Avarning  voice  shall  rouse  tlie 
slumbering  community,  and  marshal  them  in  the  support 
of  her  cause. 

But  I  should  not  meet  the  expectations  of  those  Avho 
liave  assembled  here,  nor  perform  the  duty  which  I  oAve 
to  those  I  address,  were  I  not  to  allude  to  the  dangers 
that  threaten  us  from  the  existence  of  one  vice  which  lias 
taken  deep  root  in  our  country — the  vice  of  Intemperance . 
Fifty  years  ago,  this  evil  was  scarcely  known  among  us  ; 
yet  even  then,  the  eagle-eyed  patriot  saw  in  ardent  spirit 
a  national  evil.  Mr.  Hamilton,  in  one  of  the  first  of  that 
series  of  Essays  wliich  the  nation  has  adopted  as  its  own, 
says,  **  That  article  would  well  bear  a  high  rate  of  duty  ; 
and  if  it  should  tend  to  diminish  the  consumption  of  it, 
such  an  efi*ect  would  be  equally  favoralde  to  the  agricul- 
ture, to  tlie  ccononty,  to  the  morals  and  to  the  health  of 


society.'-'  He  adds,  "There  is  perhaps  nothing  so  much 
a  subject  of  national  extravagance,  as  this  very  article." 
If  when  this  evil  was  but  a  germ,  such  an  expression  of 
sentiment  was  called  for,  Avhat  can  be  said  too  much, 
when  it  has  grown  up  and  filled  the  whole  earth?  Not 
a  community,  not  a,  neighborhood  in  our  whole  country 
has  escaped.  Indeed  there  is  scarcely  a  family,  but  feels 
itself  degraded  by  having  some  of  its  connections  enumer- 
ated with  the  drunkards  of  our  land. 

Nothing  is  more  obvious,  than  that  intemperance  tends 
to  superinduce  poverty,  ignorance  and  moral  degradation. 
On  this  point  all  must  be  agreed.  In  a  country  where 
the  rulers  are  such  by  divine  right — where  the  govern- 
ment is  administered  by  a  succession  of  hereditary  nobles, 
it  is  a  small  matter,  considered  in  a  national  point  of 
Tiew,  that  her  subjects  are  degraded  and  abject.  But  iu 
a  free  government  it  is  not  so.  Here,  every  citizen,  at 
regular  periods,  "  bears  to  the  omnipotent  ballot-box  his 
full  portion  of  the  sovereignty."  Here  tlie  voice  of  the 
most  humble  is  heard  in  all  our  councils.  The  direct 
tendency  of  poverty,  ignorance  and  moral  degradation  is 
to  subject  this  tremendous  power  of  the  multitude  to  the 
will  of  the  few  ;  and  to  throw  the  direction  of  our  public 
affairs  into  the  hands  of  artful  and  designing  demagogues. 
Intemperance  is  in  this  way  exerting  a  fearful  control  in 
our  country,  by  destroying  that  balance  of  influence  which 
is  founded  on  property,  as  well  as  that  healtliful  mental 
equality,  which  is  so  essential  to  a  self-ruled  people. 
Indeed,  so  great  are  the  political  evils  already  effected 
by  tliis  degrading  vice,  tliat  the  true  lover  of  his  country 
can  but  entertain  painful  apprehensions  for  the  future 
fate  of  this  Kcpublic, 

There  is  another  way  in  which  our  nation  suffers  di- 
rectly from  the  effects  of  intemperance  ;  and  that  is  by 
the  premature  death  of  many  of  its  inhabitants.  It  is 
true,  the  drunkard  generally  goes  down  in  silence  to  the 
grave.  Few  are  the  tears  that  are  shed  over  the  place 
where  he  sleeps.  The  voice  of  public  mourning  is  never 
heard  on  his  account.  Yet  who  can  say,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  dangerous  usages  of  society,  by  which  he  was 
first  decoyed  from  iht  paths  of  virtue  and  sobriety,  how 
useful  a  citizen  he  might  have  made  ?  Who  can  say,  how 
many  there  are  who  thus  sink   down  in  infamy,   who 


liiight  have  shone  their  country's  brightest  ornaments? 
ThoLisantls  of  young  men  have  entered  upon  the  world 
witli  prospects  fair,  but  have  fallen  before  the  withering 
touch  of  intemperance,  like  the  leaf  by  the  untimely  frost. 
How  great  the  loss  the  world  has  suifeved  on  the  account, 
is  left  for  the  imagination  alone  to  conceive.  The  lover 
of  his  country  however,  if  he  possess  the  common  feel- 
ings of  humanity,  can  but  weep  over  so  mighty  a  wreck 
of  talent  and  promise. 

Another  national  view  may  be  taken  of  this  subject, 
not  less  humiliating  than  these.  Too  often  do  we  see  in 
those  who  have  gone  up  to  stations  of  usefulness,  where 
are  required  sterling  integrity  and  unyielding  virtue,  the 
slaves  of  a  groveling  passion.  Too  often  are  the  seats 
of  justice  and  of  legislation  filled  by  those,  whose  de- 
bilitated systems,  nervous  irritability,  clouded  judgment, 
enfeebled  memory,  and  dullness  of  perception,  in  a  lan- 
guage that  cannot  be  misunderstood,  declare  them  to  be 
the  worshipers  of  strange  gods, — such  as  never  brought 
us  out  from  the  land  of  bondage.  Our  fathers  bowed  not 
before  tiiera,  nor  poured  out  libations  upon  their  altars. 
In  those  Essays  composing  the  Federalist,  which  have 
been  before  referred  to,  and  which  will  be  read,  long  after 
the  circumstances  that  gave  rise^o  them  shall  have  be- 
come dim  in  the  distance,  Mr.  Madison,  speaking  of  th(5 
plan  and  execution  of  the  Constitution  of  our  country, 
says,  *^Itis  impossible  for  the  man  of  pious  reflection 
not  to  perceive  in  it  a  finger  of  that  Almighty  Hand, 
whicli  has  been  so  frequently  and  signally  extended  to 
our  relief  in  the  critical  stages  of  the  Revolution.*'  Are 
the  guardians  of  our  liberties,  and  the  defenders  of  our 
rights,  the  worshipers  of  the  purple  god,  instead  of 
that  Almighty  Being,  whose  interposition  in  our  behalf 
is  here  recognized  ?  Then  may  we  pluck  the  plumes 
from  the  gray  bird  of  our  country's  standaril,  front^-pttr 
1-egislative  halls  break  down  from  its  pedestal  the  vene- 
rated statue  of  our  country's  father,  and  instead  of  Lib- 
EiiTY,  inscribe  Despotism  on  our  country's  seal. 

The  wisest  of  the  men  who  compose  our  nation.il 
councils  have  united  their  influence  in  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance. A  number  of  meetings  have  within  a  year  or 
two  been  held  in  the  Capitol  for  its  proriiotion.  Here 
tiie  leaders  of  tiie  parties  have  put  up  their  swords  into 


their  scabbards  ;  and,  however  unused  to  mingle  their 
voices  in  concert,  to  the  honor  of  their  names,  on  this 
subject  there  has  been  but  one  voice.  They  have  here 
come  together,  and  mingled  their  sacrifices  on  this  altar, 
sacred  to  the  public  good. 

But  this  is  not  the  only  view  which  it  is  our  duty  to 
take  of  the  subject  under  consideration.  What  are  the 
objects  of  government,  but  tlie  peace,  order,  and  happi- 
ness of  the  community  ?  And  if  these  be  not  effected, 
what  avails  the  nominal  character  of  the  government  un- 
der which  we  live  ?  Every  species  of  misery,  it  is  our 
duty,  as  American  citizens,  to  endeavor  to  alleviate.  And 
where  shall  we  direct  the  eye — to  what  favored  spot, 
from  our  own  State  to  the  farthest  South,  not  to  see  the 
ravages  of  intemperance  ? — not  to  see  the  sunken  eye  of 
dissipation,  the  haggard  che^k  of  poverty,  the  tear  of 
suffering  innocence,  the  ruin  of  moral  character,  and  the 
scattered  fragments  of  man's  glorious  intellect  ?  Where 
shall  we  turn,  not  to  hear  the  sighs  and  wailings  of  suf- 
fering humanity? — There  is  something  dark  and  unlove- 
ly in  the  scene,  that  presents  nothing  but  images  of  sad- 
ness ;  and  I  would  turn  from  it,  but  that  the  occasion 
calls. — On  the  one  hand,  may  be  seen  squalid  poverty, 
half  naked,  stealing  away  from  the  wretched  cottage 
where  no  fire  cheers  the  morning  of  December,  and  no 
food  satisfies  the  hunger  of  famished  helplessness  and 
innocence,  to  seek  for  another  potion  of  the  cause  of  all 
this  misery ;  and  on  the  other,  wealth  is  seen  squander- 
ing away  its  abundance,  and  giving  in  exchange  plenty 
and  peacefulness  for  want  and  wretchedness.  Here,  may 
be  seen  the  lost  to  all  moral  principle,  in  whom  con- 
science has  lost  its  power,  and  the  social  affections  their 
tenderness  ;  and  there,  the  intellect  originally  endowed 
with  the  most  elevated  powers,  and  glowing  with  all  the 
warmth  of  the  soul's  highest  aspirations,  stricken  down 
in  the  midst  of  its  high  soaring — its  sacred  fire  quenched 
in  the  unholy  flame  of  its  own  kindling.  We  scarcely 
need  turn  to  see  the  young  aspirant  after  fame  gradually 
declining  in  his  efforts  ;  and  by  slow,  and  to  himself  al- 
most imperceptible  degrees,  losing  sight  of  the  objects 
that  once  fired  his  ambition,  till  at  length  he  sinks  in  in- 
famy, and  goes  down  to  sleep  Avhere  Love  nor  Pity  shall 
ever  drop  a  tear  over  his  grave. 


9 

These  views  are  no  exaggerations— they  everywhere 
tneet  the  eye  even  of  the  most  superficial  observer.  Otlier 
dark  scenes  there  are  that  meet  not  the  public  gaze. .  To 
those  who  have  seen  them,  they  need  not  be  repeated ; 
and  to  those  who  have  not,  they  cannot  be  adequately 
represented.  Yet  it  may  not  be  amiss,  to  present  even 
an  imperfect  sketch  of  what  is  sad  reality,  before  the 
young,  the  thougiitJess,  the  gay — some  of  them  per- 
chance the  future  matrons  of  our  country. — I  have  seen 
the  wife,  v/hose  husband  was  a  drunkard.  She  too  was 
a  mother ;  and  with  her  children,  from  the  prattling  in- 
fant to  the  accomplished  young  lady,  has  oft  been  seen 
watching  his  return  with  deep  anxiety.  I  have  seen 
them  retiring  before  his  awkward  movements,  his  totter- 
ing step,  and  his  countenance  of  vacant  thoughtlessness. 
I  have  seen  their  tears,  and  heard  their  sighs,  when  they 
have  seen  the  dignity  of  the  man — of  him  who  ivas  a 
husband,  a  father — lost  in  the  degradation  of  the  brute. 
Then  I  thought  of  blighted  hopes,  of  withered  anticipa- 
tions ; — I  thought  of  a  family  ruined  by  vicious  example, 
of  property  confiscated,  of  the  disgrace  of  her  who  once 
shone  in  the  highest  circle,  of  the  lone  death-bed  and  un- 
visited  grave  of  the  drunkard,  and  of  the  cold  charity  of 
a  cold  world.  Allured  from  the  gay  circles  of  her  youth, 
and  from  all  the  endearments  of  home  and  kindred,  with 
promises  flattering  and  expectations  high,  at  once  she  is 
thus  precipitated  to  the  most  hopeless  abyss  of  temporal 
ruin. 

Such  are  some  of  the  evils  that  have  their  origin  in 
the  use  of  ardent  spirits. 

I  am  now  prepared  to  speak  of  the  object  for  whicli 
we  have  this  day  assembled,  by  way  of  comparing  it 
with  the  high  purpose  of  our  fathers,  which  led  to  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  which  event  is  this  day, 
throughout  our  whole  country,  so  cnthusir.stically  cele- 
brated. Think  me  not  about  to  speak  I'fghtly  of  the 
glorious  achievements  of  our  ancestors.  To  no  one  can 
the  scenes  of  our  early  history  appear  more  interesting 
than  to  me.  To  no  one  can  the  distinguished  actors  in 
those  scenes  appear  more  worthy,  or  their  names  more 
deserving  of  immortal  fame.  But  when  I  cast  my  eye* 
over  this  country,  which  they  bought  with  their  blood, 
and  see  scattered  here  and  there  in  every  town,  in  every 
2 


10 

neigbborhood,  habitual  drunkards,  already  amounting 
to  about  one  fortieth  part  of  our  whole  population ;  when 
I,  in  my  imagination,  visit  their  homes,  now  the  abodes 
of  wretchedness,  and  see  the  poverty,  cruelty  and  suf- 
fering;  to  which  female  delicacy  and  helpless  innocence 
are  subjected ;  I  can  but  conclude,  that  there  never  was 
80  much  to  call  forth  the  firmness  of  resolve,  and  the 
vigor  of  action,  exhibited  by  our  fathers,  as  there  now  ia 
to  call  forth  our  best  efforts  to  put  an  end  to  the  desolat- 
ing evils  of  intemperance. 

But  I  feel  disposed  to  present  this  subject  a  little  in 
detail.  It  is  an  estimation,  coming  from  a  source  on 
which  we  can  rely,  that  there  are  noAV  three  hundred 
thousand  habitual  drunkards  in  our  country.  If  we 
suppose  associated  with  each  of  these  only  two  who  are 
the  immediate  sufferers  from  their  habits  of  intemper- 
ance, even  in  that  case,  we  have  a  number  either  degrad- 
ed by  drunkenness,  or  suifering  from  their  immediate 
connection  with  drunkards,  equal  to  one  fourth  part  of 
the  whole  population  of  these  United  States  on  the  day 
of  their  emancipation  from  British  tyranny.*  And  what 
were  the  hardships — what  was  the  tyranny,  to  which 
they  were  subjected,  compared  with  the  bondage  of  him 
who  is  a  slave  to  ardent  spirits  ? — with  the  overwhelm- 
ing and  heartfelt  afillictions  of  those,  who  are  destined 
to  see  their  fathers,  their  mothers,  their  children,  their 
husbands,  their  wives,  their  nearest  and  dearest  friends, 
sinking  into  the  vortex  which  intemperance  has  opened 
for  their  ruin  ? 

Friends  and  Fellow  Citizens, — It  is  well  for  us  to 
turn  in  here,  aside  from  the  scenes  both  of  business  and 
of  mirth,  to  think  on  these  things;  and  when  we  think 
on  them,  let  us  think  on  them  as  being  sad  and  painful 
realities.  With  what  rapid  strides  has  intemperance  ad- 
vanced in  our  country  during  the  last  fifty  years  !  Fifty 
years  hence,  we  shall  probably  be  in  our  graves ;  but 
judging  from  the  past,  what  assurance  have  we  that  the 
rising  generation  shall  not,  even  before  our  memories 
shall  die  from  the  earth,  see  this  a  nation  of  drunkards? 
Our  only  assurance — our  only  hope  rests  in  the  efforts 
of  the  friends  of  temperance.     And  shall  we  speak  or 

•  John  N«al'8  address  before  tbe  Portland  ABsocialion. 


11 

think  lightly  of  a  cause,  which  has  for  its  object  to  mak» 
the  mass  of  the  people  which  compose  our  nation,  a  hap- 
pier people,  and  to  make  our  future  Legislators,  our 
future  Governors,  Presidents  and  Judges,  more  wise^ 
more  prudent,  more  just  ?  It  is  a  cause  too,  the  pro- 
posed execution  of  which  bears  a  striking  analogy  to  on© 
which  is  intimately  connected  with  the  series  of  events, 
which  led  to  the  Declaration  of  our  Country's  Indepen- 
dence. 

Even  now,^  in  my  imagination,  methinks  I  see  the 
Yenerable  convention  of  Virginia,  composed  of  such  meik 
as  Pendleton,  Lee,  and  the  ever  to  be  remembered 
Henry,  Jefferson  and  Washington,  adopting,  almost 
without  discussion,  the  following  Preamble  and  Reso- 
lution : — "  Considering  the  article  of  tea  as  the  detestable 
instrument  which  laid  the  foundation  of  the  present  suf- 
ferings of  our  distressed  friends  in  the  town  of  Boston,. 
we  view  it  with  horror:  and  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  we  will  not,  from  this  day,  import 
tea  of  any  kind  whatever  ;  nor  will  we  use  it,  nor  suffer 
such  of  it  as  may  now  be  on  our  hands  to  be  used  in  any 
of  our  families." 

And  they  say,  ^<  that,  in  view  of  the  grievances  and 
distresses  inflicted  by  the  hand  of  power  on  the  people, 
they  recommend  their  association  to  merchants,  traders 
and  others,  hoping  they  will  accede  to  it  cheerfully." 
Nor  was  their  recommendation  disregarded,  or  their 
hopes  disappointed.  Their  voice  was  heard,  and  similar 
associations  were  formed  throughout  tUe  land ;  and  for 
this  act  of  magnanimity,  future  generations,  when  they 
meet  to  celebrate  this  festival,  shall  think  of  them,  and 
shall  point  them  out  to  their  sons  as  the  benefactors  of 
their  country. 

We  here  have  an  association  of  the  first  patriots  of 
the  nation,  founded  on  the  principle  of  total  abstinence, 
and  this  principle  recommended  to  the  adoption  of  all 
classes  of  society;  and  we  find,  that  those  who  were  deaf 
to  this  recommendation  were  then  considered  as  traitors 
to  their  country.  And  what  was  all  this  for  ?  Was  it 
to  destroy  in  the  germ  the  principle  of  foreign  oppres 
sion?  Yet  what  was  this,  to  the  incubus  that  is  now 
pressing  down  upon  our  institutions,  that  is  undermining 
our  morals,  and  preying  upon  the  vitals  of  our  political 


12 

s/stcin  ?  Was  it  to  avdid  the  influence  of  an  oppressive 
systRm  of  taxation  ?  Yet  wliat  were  tlie  hundreds  that 
British  extortion  threatened  to  rend  from  us,  to  tiie  mil- 
lions* that  we  are  annually  expending  in  that  liquid 
poison,  which  is  sweeping  its  thousands  to  the  grave^ 
and  which  is  threatening  the  entire  overthrow  of  thiibc 
United  States? 

The  plan  on  which  it  is  proposed  to  accomplish  the 
object  in  which  we  are  engaged,  considered  even  in  a 
political  point  of  view/is  not,  then,  without  a  precedent. 
TJie  evils  of  intemperance  are  admitted  ;  and  almostr 
as  generally  is  it  admitted,  that  these  evils  cannot  be  re- 
moved but  by  the  influence  of  Public  Opinion.  And 
how  can  the  friends  of  temperance  so  well  express  a 
sentiment  upon  this  subject,  or  so  effectually  bring  t)icir 
influence  to  bear  on  public  opinion,  as  by  uniting  to  dis- 
courage, in  every  honorable  Avay,  the  use  of  what  is  now 
almost  universallv  acknowled2:ed  to  be  detrimental  to  the 
public  interests  ?  But  iil'doing  this  we  may  be  called  to 
a  sacrifice — we  are  called  to  a  sacrifice.  By  some  meansy 
in  this  part  of  the  community,  however  it  may  triumpb 
in  other  places,  the  cause  is  not  sufficiently  popular,  to 
enable  one  to  espouse  it,  without  at  least  something  of  a 
sacrifice  of  feeling.  It  does  not  fall  in  with  the  feeling* 
of  men  of  acute  sensibilities,  to  engage  in  a  cause  which 
is  opposed  to  the  feelings  and  interests  of  those  with 
Avhom  they  are  associated.  Yet  where  duty  leads,  surely 
we  should  never  fear  to  follow. 

But  the  sacrifice,  which  a  recognition  of  the  principle 
of  total  abstinence  involves,  and  which  principally 
hinders  the  progress  of  the  temperance  cause,  is  one  of 
jirejudice  and  of  interest,  rather  than  of  feeling.  AVe 
have  been  accustomed  from  our  childhood  to  think  it 
perfectly  harmless,  to  make  what  is  called  a  temperate 
use  of  ardent  spirit.  We  may  now  perhaps,  notwith- 
standing the  sentirnenls  which  are  abroad  on  this  subject, 
believe  that  such  a  use  of  this  drug  is  not  injurious.  To 
throw  aside  this  long  established  habit,  and  to  sacrifice 
the  Imagined  pleasure  connected  with  it,  we  have  a  strong 
reluctance.     Yet  permit  me  to  say,  patriotism  and  i)hi- 

*The  Hon.  William  Cianch,  Chief  Justice  of  ilie  District  of  Columbia,  in  an 
Afldress  bflforc  the  Wasliiiigton  and  Alexandria  Temperance  Socieiif'!",  psiiinuies 
llie  annual  loss  to  'he  country  by  liie  use  of  ardent  S'jiirils  at  $04,425;000. 


13 

lanthropy  call  to  it.  Tiioug,b  ,i(.'e  may  indulge  in  the 
motlerate  use  of  spirit,  without  carrying  it  to  excess, 
matter  of  fact  says,  that  others  cannot  thus  control 
themselves.  However  it  may  be  with  some,  there 
are  many  who  cannot  safely  stand  on  this  dizzy  preci- 
pice. Their  feet  stumble  and  they  arc  gone.  And 
while  such  are  encouraged  to  the  repetition  of  what 
is  to  them  a  dangerous  experiment  indeed,  by  those 
whose  appetites  are  not  so  strong,  or  who  can  bet- 
ter control  them,  it  is  an  important  enquiry,  and  one  of 
wliich  i  shall  not  atlempt  a  solution,  how  far  he  who 
oflfers  this  encouragemeiit  becomes  a  sharer  in  the  crime  ? 

Fifty  years  ago,  as  has  been  said,  there  was  scarcely 
a  drunkard  in  all  our  part  of  tiie  country.  Little  did 
ixi^  moliierthen  think,  when  "'pouring  this  fiery  drug  into 
the  caudle-cup  of  the  babe  ;  or  mingling  it  with  the  food 
of  the  infant,'-'  that  she  was  training  up  her  offspring  to 
become  the  dregs  of  society.  Little  did  the  father  think, 
when  he  took  the  bottle  into  the  shop  or  into  the  field 
with  his  son,  and  there  learned  him  to  take  the  intoxicat- 
ing draught,  that  he  was  leading  the  way  to  certain  and 
inevitable  destruction — that  he  was  preparing  the  dagger, 
which  would  by  and  by  pierce  him  tiirough  with  many 
sorrows.  Little  too,  did  the  gentleman  think,  Avheu  he 
was  throwins;  off  his  srlass  of  wine  or  brandv,  that  he  was 
encouraging  practices,  which  would  result  in  habits  of 
confirmed  intemperance,  among  those,  by  Avhom  hs  was 
looked  up  (o  as  an  example.  As  little  do  Me  now  think, 
that  our  children — that  our  associates — that  our  imitators, 
will  by  and  by  refer  the  moral  degradation  in  M'hich  they 
will  be  ])lunged  to  the  frivolous  usages  of  society — 
usages,  whicii  we  as  temperate  men — which  we  as  gen- 
tlemen— shall  I  add,  which  we  as  christians  are  hy  our 
daily  practice  encouraging.  The  example  of  a  ikausaud 
beastly  drunkards  is  nut  so  dangerous  as  that  of  one  man 
of  respectability,  who  is  occasionally  seen  takini^  his 
social  glass. — It  is  time  we  were  awake  to  this  suhject ! 

But  there  are  other  prejudices,  beside  those  of  habit. 
Closely  allied  to  this,  is  the  prejudice,  which  arises  from 
erroneous  observations  made  on  the  effects  produced  by 
ardent  spirit.  Tjicre  are  many  who  will  assert — and 
refer  to  their  own  experience  iii  Mipport  of  the  assertion 
— that  stimulating  drinks  are  useful  in  sustaining  Ihe 


t4 

system  under  hard  labor^  or  in  defending  it  from  the  in- 
fluence of  sudden  changes  of  temperature.  The  point 
however  may  be  considered  fully  established  by  the  ex- 
perience of  thousands  who  liave  given  up  its  use,  that 
men  can  perform  more  labor,  undergo  greater  hardships 
and  exposures,  and  at  the  same  time  enjoy  better  healthy 
without  the  aid  of  stimulating  drinks,  than  when  they 
use  them.  Indeed,  the  man  unused  to  artificial  stimu- 
lants never  feels  their  need,  in  sustaining  the  fatigues,  or 
enduring  the  cold,  the  heat  or  the  storms,  to  which  a  busi- 
ness life  exposes  him.  It  is  therefore,  to  supply  a  defect^ 
which  but  for  an  unnatural  and  unnecessary  stimulus- 
would  never  have  existed,  that  the  inebriate  resorts  to  his 
periodic  dram.  By  the  use  of  this  stimulus,  a  derange- 
ment of  the  vital  organs  is  produced.  The  food  becomes 
less  nourishing,  and  the  sleep  less  refreshing.  In  thi# 
way,  the  natural  excitability  of  the  system  is  diminished^ 
and  exhaustion  and  depression  of  the  spirits  ensue. 
From  these  a  relief  is  sought  in  the  very  means  which 
have  occasioned  theiVi,^  and  which,  whatever  be  the  tem- 
porary effects,  must,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  continue 
to  exhaust  the  system  and  depress  the  spirits  still  more^ 
and  more. 

The  error  here  arises  from  observing  the  immediate 
effects  only,  while  the  more  remote  are  neglected.  The 
increased  action  of  the  vital  organs,  the  temporary  in- 
crease of  muscular  power,  the  excitement  of  the  imag- 
ination, and  the  unusual  buoyancy  af  the  spirit — tliese/^ 
are  all  noticed.  Eut  when  these  organs  lose  their  vital 
forces — when  the  muscles  are  wasted — when  the  momen- 
tary excitement  of  the  imagination  has  passed  away,  or  is 
exchanged  for  the  v/ild  ravings  of  the  maniac — or  when 
«he  hilarity  of  the  haunts  of  intemperance  is  lost  in  the 
gloomy  horrors  of  delirium — then  the  unfortunate  subject  is 
too  far  gone  to  trace  these  effects  to  their  proper  causes,  or 
has  too  little  moral  power,  to  give  one  admonition  to  his 
associates  in  guilt,  or  even  to  sigh  over  the  ruin  himself 
iias  wrought.  These,  (hough  more  remote^  are  never- 
theless the  legitimate  effects  of  intemperance  ;  and  the 
dreary  subjects  of  this  ruin,  though  useless  to  society 
and  a  curse  to  their  friends,  are  permitted  to  remain  here 
and  there  among  us,  as  if  to  admonish  the  temperate 
drinker  of  the  vortex  which  lies  before  him. 


15 

There  is  also  a  prejudice  of  authority, ^ — and  it  is  one 
to  which  we  cling  with  peculiar  affection.     We  have 
learned  the  use  of  ardent  spirit  from  our  fathers.     The 
practice  has  heen  confirmed  hy  the  recommendation  of 
physicians  ;    and  still  its  use,  even  as  a  drink,  has  its 
solitary  advocates  among  those  to  whom  the  lives  of  men 
are  entrusted.     Under  the  influence  of  such  a  bias,  there 
are  many,  who  claim  that  this  is  efficient  in  guarding 
against  the  attacks  of  disease,  who  admit  its  inutility  in 
other  cases.     On  this  subject,  there  is  no  division  of  sen- 
timent  among  the  leading  members  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession ;  and  to  them  I  am  happy  in  being  able  to  refer. 
Dr.  Sewall,  who  in  addition  to  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession,  fills  the  Professorship  of  Anatomy  and  Phys- 
iology in  the  Columbian   College,   among  the  chronic 
diseases  produced  by  strong  drink,    names  Dyspejpsy^ 
Consumption,  Vrojisy,  Hkeumatisfnn  Gout,  Palpitation j 
Palsy,  Histeria  and  Madness;  and  remarks  in  immedi- 
ate connection,   ^' there  is  scarcely  a  morbid  affection  to 
which  the  human  body  is  liable,  that  has  not  in  one  v/ay 
or  another  been  produced  by  ardent  spirit."     In  more 
general  terras  he  says,  "There  is  not  a  disease  but  it 
has  aggravated,  nor  a  predisposition  to  disease,  which  it 
has  not  called  into  action."     If  a  more  definite  testimo- 
ny is  required  in  relation  to  fevers  and  other  vioient  at- 
tacks, a  remark  of  Dr.  Rush  is  in  place,  made  long  be- 
fore the  formation  of  Temperance  Societies,  "That  ar- 
dent spirits  dispose  the  body  to  every  form  of  acute  dis- 
eases."    Indeed,    we  have  the  collected  testimony  of 
about  forty,  from  among  the  most  respectable  physicians 
of  the  state  of  New  York,   "  That  ardent  spirit  never 
operates  as  sl  preventive  of  epidemic  or  pestilential  dis- 
eases ;    but  is  very  generally  an  exciting  cause  of  such 
diseases,  and  alivays  aggravates  them." 

It  appears,  then,  that  ardent  spirit,  instead  of  being  a 
preventive,  is  actually  a  predisposing  cause  of  disease. 
And  not  only  does  it  predispose  the  system  to  the  at- 
tacks of  various  diseases,  but  greatly  increases  the  vio- 
lence of  their  action,  when  they  have  once  fixed  them-^ 
selves  there.  A  physician  of  Massachusetts,  of  forty^ 
years'  extensive  practice,  has  given  it  Jis  his  opinion, 
that  half  the  men  who  die  of  fevers,  might  recover,  were 
it  not  for  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors.     And  ho  eveH' 


16 

»ays,  ^^  I  have  often  seen  niea  stretched  on  a  bed  of  fe- 
ver,  who,  to  all  human  appearance,  roiglit  be  raised  np 
as  well  as  not,  were  it  not  for  that  state  of  the  system, 
which  daily  temperate  drinking  produces  :  who  now,  in 
spite  of  all  that  can  be  done,  sink  down  and  die.'"'  But 
no  disease  perhaps  has  given. so  unequivocal  a  testimony 
against  strong  drink,  as  that  scourge  of  the  earth  which 
has  recently  overspread  JEurope,  and  is  already  upon 
our  borders.*  In  many  places,  more  than  four  fifths 
who  have  become  its  victims,  have  been  addicted  to  the 
<rcs  use  of  ardent  spirit.  These  facts  have  gained  the 
assent  of  the  world,  that  strict  temperance  is  the  surest 
safeguard  against  its  influence.  And  I  fearlessly  state, 
that  no  respectable  physician  will  hazard  the  assertion, 
that  in  that  respect  the  Cholera  forms  an  exception  to 
other  acute,  or  even  chronic  diseases. 

Nor  is  the  cause  of  the  predisposition  to  disease  and 
death,  which  accompanies  the  use  of  ardent  spirit, 
concealed.  It  is  knowni  that  all  th^  principal  organs  of 
the  body  become  diseased  ;  that  the  nervous  system — 
"that  nicely  adjusted  structure,  which  superintends  the 
functions  of  the  whole  living  body'" — is  deranged  ;  and 
that  the  vitality  of  the  blood  is  impaired,  and  thus  ren- 
dered unfit  to  stimulate  the  organs,  to  supply  the  materi- 
als for  the  secretions,  or  to  renovate  the  tissues  of  the 
body.  Thus  the  functions  of  life  are  disturbed — the 
constitution  is  broken  down,  and  the  energy  of  the  sys- 
tem is  diminished.  And  where  this  is  the  case,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  disease  should  settle,  and  that  it  should  fix 
itself  there  by  a  more  fatal  grasp. 

Bat  there  is  another  prejudice,  which  arises  from  the 
same  source,  in  favor  of  ardent  spirit  as  a  medicine  in 
the  treatment  of  disease.  Here  too,  I  shall  be  permit- 
ted to  quote  from  medical  writers,  that  the  charge  of 
making  drunkards  may  be  removed  from  the  'profession, 
and  rest — where  indeed  it  ought  to  rest — on  those  indi- 
vidual  practitioners  who  still  advocate  its  use.  On  this 
subject.  Dr.  Warren  of  Boston  says,  "  That  the  neces- 
sity of  using  ardent  spirits  in  medicine  is  extremely  lim- 
ited ;    and  if  the  reservation  of  the  use  of   alcohol  for 

i 

*  The  Cholera  broko  oat  in  New  York,  only  a  day  or  two  previous  to  the  dc- 
tivery  of  this  Addross  ;  and  its  existence  in  tlie  United  Stales  was  not  known  to 
the  auihor  at  that  time. 


IT 

eases  of  sickness  leads  to  practical  abuses,  such  a  reser- 
vation should  not  be  made."  And  Dr.  Sewall,  who  has 
been  before  quoted,  with  more  boldness  remarks,  *^  If 
you  appeal  to  the  medical  profession,  they  will  tell  you, 
every  independent,  honest,  sober,  intelligent  member  of 
it  will  tell  you,  that  there  is  no  case  in  which  ardent  spir- 
it is  indispensable,  and  for  which  there  is  not  an  adequp,te 
substitute."  Numerous  other  physicians  of  note  have 
made  similar  concessions. 

I  shall  allude  to  but  one  more  of  the  prejudices  in  fa- 
vor of  intoxicating  liquors,  and  that  is  one  supported  by 
false  reasoning.  We  are  told  that  they  are  subject  to 
abuse  only  in  Common  with  other  things,  and  that  the 
abuse  of  a  thing  is  no  argument  against  the  use  of  it. 
This  is  not  true,  except  when  the  thing  itself  is  benefi- 
cial, and  when  tiie  advantages  arising  from  its  use  are 
greater  than  the  disadvantages  which  arise  from  its 
abuse.  In  relation  to  ardent  spirit,  the  use  of  it  m  any 
quantities,  as  an  article  of  luxury,  is  an  abuse.  Even,  if 
we  set  aside  all  the  evils  of  drunkenness,  it  is  higlp'y 
injurious.  The  dram-drinker  shares  much  more  largely 
in  the  evils  of  intemperance  than  even  himself  is  aware. 
Says  an  eminent  European  physician,*  "  The  observa- 
tion of  tvk^enty  years  has  convinced  me,  that  werck  ten 
young  men,  on  their  twenty- first  birthday,  to  b^gin  to 
drink  one  glass  of  ardent  spirit,  and  were  they  to  drink 
this  supposed  moderate  quantity  daily,  the  lives  of  eight 
out  of  the  ten  would  be  abridged  by  twelve  or  fifteen 
years."  In  accordance  with  this  is  the  testimony  of  Dr. 
Kush,  where  he  says  : — ^"  I  have  known  several  persons 
destroyed  by  ardent  spirit,  who  were  never  completely 
intoxicated  in  the  whole  course  of  their  lives."  Many 
instances  of  disease  of  the  liver  and  stomach,  which  ulti- 
mately prove  fatal,  are  referred  by  physicians  to  the  influ- 
ence of  ardent  spirit,  though  the  persons  affected  may  be 
orlly  temperate  drinkers ;  and  we  are  told  that  some  of 
the  most  fearful  cases  of  delirium  tremens  have  been  of 
persons  who  were,  in  the  common  acceptation  of  the 
term,  temperate  men.  The  dram-drinker  then,  not  less 
than  the  drunkard,  falls  ultimately  by  the  influence  of 
this  secret  poison,  when  but  for  this  he  might  have  beea 

*  Dr.  Cheyne  of  Dublin,  Ireland.       c  ;7<;  ,.    :  si."»  .•  "f  vi 

3  " 


18 

in  the  vigor  of  mahhooil.  Not  only  is  Ijis  life  thus 
abridged  by  his  self  indulgence,  but  the  imbecility  of  hi* 
mind,  superinduced  by  these  habits,  is  such,  that  he 
rarely  leaves  a  vestige  of  usefulness  behind  him,  to  tell 
the  next  generation  that  he  has  lived. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  things,  the  work  of  death 
goes  on.  The  deep  and  deadly  fountain,  from  which 
proceeds  all  these  evils,  is  still  supplied  ;  and  still  we 
see  even  the  young  man,  in  the  midst  of  his  strength  and 
intelligence,  enticed  by  the  usages  of  society,  coming  to 
sip  of  the  fatal  waters.  We  see  him  again,  when  his 
mind  and  his  body  should  be  in  the  full  vigor  of  man- 
hood, with  **  his  eye  of  bright "  sunken,  his  countenance 
wan,  his  hand  tremulous,  and  the  fire  of  genius 
quenched.  We  look  again,  and  long  before  he  has  at- 
tained his  threescore  years  and  ten,  his  bones  are  ming- 
led with  the  ruins  of  the  multitudes  who  have  gone  be- 
fore him.  He  has  passed  away  from  the  world  in  si- 
I'ence,  unhonored  and  unsung.  Who  can  tell  of  the 
tl\ousands,  of  whom  this  is  the  sad  history? — who 
ba\sely  He  down  in  the  drunkard's  grave — whose  mem- 
orie  s  die  with  them,  and  whose  spirits,  debased  by  the 
lowest  indulgences,  go  away  to  their  Creator  and  their 
Judge.. 

But  ihat  which  supplies  this  fountain  of  iniquity,  and 
which  eycerts  the  greatest  influence  in  delaying  the  pro- 
gress of  our  cause,  is  private  interest.  Many  are  en- 
gaged dijectly  in  the  traffic ;  and  many  others,  directly 
or  indirec\l.ly,  become  sharers  in  the  advantages  which 
the  traffic  offers.  The  tea  trade  at  the  commencement 
of  our  Revolution,  which  has  been  alluded  to,  was  a 
parallel  case.  Shall  the  merchants — shall  the  citizens 
of  our  enlightened  day,  be  less  patriotic  than  were  the 
patriots  of  "74?  Shall  we  see  the  desolation  going 
forth,  and  yet  extend  no  hand  to  stay  its  rapid  progress? 
Let  the  traffic  its  ardent  spirit  but  cease,  and  its  con- 
sumption, with  all  the  fearful  effects  it  produces,  would 
also  cease.  But  till  this  is  done,  the  young  will  be 
trained  up  to  habits  of  intemperance,  and  the  inebriate 
will  feel  himself  sustained  in  the  practice  of  drunken- 
ness ; — the  voice  of  wailing  will  continue  to  go  up  from 
the  drunkard's  habitation,  and,  what  is  more  to  be  feared 
by  those  who  are  aiding  in  this  work  of  ruin, — the  voice 


19 

of  the  drunkard's  blood  will  continue  to  cry  to  God  from 
the  ground. 

The  plea  that  this  is  sometimes  useful  as  a  medicine 
in  the  treatment  of  disease,  has  already  been  noticed. 
But  admitting  that  it  is  sometimes  used  with  propriety 
as  a  medicine, — so  are  arsenic  and  corrosive  sublimate 
used  as  medicines.  There  is  no  objection  to  its  limited 
manufacture  as  a  medicine,  or  to  the  apothecary's  keep- 
ing a  supply  to  meet  the  orders  of  temperate  physicians. 
It  is  not  its  necessary  use  as  a  medicine  that  does  the 
evil,  it  is  the  keeping  it  as  a  common  article  of  trade. 
The  vender  of  spirits  not  only  encourages  the  manufac- 
turer, but  he  furnishes  the  poisonous  draught  to  the  self- 
immolating  drunkard — he  presents  temptations  that  can- 
not be  resisted,  before  those  who  without  them  might 
forever  remain  temperate  and  happy — he  opens  the  gates 
of  ruin,  even  to  unsuspecting  innocence,  and  by  hi« 
practice,  he  gives  his  sanction  to  that  which  will  bring 
woes  innumerous  on  the  rising  generation. 

When  the  dealer  in  ardent  spirit  says,  that  men  will 
have  rum,  whether  he  sells  it  or  not,  the  statement  is  not 
true,  in  the  sense  in  which  it  is  designed  to  be  under- 
stood. There  Avould  not  be  so^  much  consumed.  His 
reasons  for  laying  it  aside  would  satisfy  hi«  temperate 
customers,  and  the  disinterestedness  of  his  course,  con- 
nected with  the  influence  which  every  man  has  in  the 
circle  of  his  friends,  would  be  productive  of  the  best  of 
consequences.  His  example  too,  would  be  followed, 
sooner  or  later,  by  other  traders,  and  thus  would  be  re- 
moved the  greatest  temptation  to  useless  expenditures, 
to  idleness  and  dissipation,  that  has  ever  been  presented 
to  any  community, 

..  But  admitting  that  the  cessation  of  traffic  in  this  drug, 
would  not  diminish  the  amount  consumed,  who  would 
\vish  to  become  accessary  in  the  production  of  so  great 
an  evil  ?  Who,  for  the  paltry  consideration  of  gain, 
would  wish  to  furnish  the  dagger  to  the  assassin,  or  the 
poison  to  the  maniac,  knowing  to  what  purpose  they 
were  to  be  applied  ?  But  this  is  not  admitted,  Such  a 
measure  would  have  an  effect,  except  with  those  who 
are  coniirmed  in  their  habits  of  intemperance.  And  if 
the  di'unkard  will  have  rum^  let  him  obtain  it  where 
he  can.     i  am  m^i  pleading  on  his   account.       He   will 


20 

soon  be  gone,  nor  will  st)ciety  feel  bis  loss.  It  i«  for  tbe 
rising  generation — Ibose  wbose  babits  are  as  yet  partial- 
ly untainted  ^vith  the  usages  of  society,  that  I  ara  mak- 
ing my  plea.  And  let  those  who  in  the  face  of  Heaven 
can  stand  up  and  say, — Let  the  blood  of  those  that  per- 
ish be  on  us  and  on  our  children, — let  these,  and  these 
alone,  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  appeal  we  make. 

But  suflRciently  have  we  lingered  among  these  dark 
scenes.  Tbe  evils  arising  from  tbe  use  of  ardent  spirit  are 
admitted  by  all  tlie  intell^ent  part  of  the  world.  It  is 
known  by  us,  thai  their  use  is  stealing  aAvay  the  wealth  of 
the  nation,  is  destroying  the  animal  constitution,  and  carry- 
ing to  an  untimely  grave  its  thousands  and  its  tens  of  thous- 
ands— that  itis  peopling  our  prisons,  insane  hospitals  and 
lunatic  asylums,  and  burying  our  nation  in  crime  and  dis- 
grace-r-that  it  is  introducing  sorrows  that  cannot  be  told, 
into  families,  once  the  abodes  of  peace  and  happiness, 
and  \s  carrying  into  every  town  and  neighborhood,  igno- 
rance, porcrty,  moral  degradation,  suffering  and  death. 
It  is  now  time  to  ask,  in  the  name  of  philanthropy — in 
the  name  of  our  country,  wbat  we  are  willing  to  do  ? 
what  we  are  willing  to  sacrifice,  to  put  an  end  to  this 
great  evil  ?  As  American  citizens,  as  lovers  of  our  coun- 
try's peace,  happiness  and  prosperity,  we  are  loudly 
called  upon  to  put  forth  our  best  efforts,  to  stop  or  stay 
the  ruin  which  is  spreading  around  us.  Are  we  willing  to 
follow  the  example  of  our  patriotic  fathers  ?  and  on  this 
day,  sacred  to  their  memories,  to  bring  our  offerings  to 
the  altar  on  which  they  sacriSced.  In  fine,  are  we,whoi 
are  accustomed  to  tlie  temperate  use  of  spirit,  willing  to 
forego  the  occasional  pleasure  of  a  social  glass  for  the 
public  good  ?  Are  we,  who  are  engaged  in  traffic  in  this 
article,  willing  to  forego  the  (rifling  gains  of  this  traflBc, 
for  the  peace  and  happiness  of  our  community?  Let 
me  inquire  further,  are  those  who  occupy  high  places  in 
oiir  town,  state  or  country — are  our  professional  men-— 
our  intelligent,  understanding  and  patriotic  citizens,  wil- 
ling to  forego  their  own  private  feelings  or  interests,  for 
the  sake  of  advancing  the  best  interests  of  our  communi- 
ty? An  opportunity  is  furnished,  in  the  existence  of 
the  society,  which  this  day  celebrates  its  first  anniversa- 
ry, forgiving  a  practical  answer  to  these  enquiries. 

To  the  plan  of  temperance  societies^   objections  have 


21 

been  made  and  answered,  and  made  again.  Too  long 
already  have  1  trespassed  on  your  attention,  to  warrant 
an  allusion  to  them.  Permit  me  simply  to  say,  that  not- 
withstanding all  the  objections  which  have  been  urged, 
the  cause  advances.  The  societies  in  our  own  country, 
more  than  a  year  since,  numbered  one  million  two  hun- 
dred thousand  members.*  The  plan  on  which  they  are 
established  has  been  adopted  in  Europe,  and  the  cause 
is  spreading  with  astonishing  rapidity  through  all  parts 
of  Great  Britain,  and  societies  are  forming  in  many  places 
on  the  continent.  And  let  me  inquire,  whether  the  ob- 
jectors to  this  system  have  ever  proposed  a  better,  or  even 
attempted  it?  And  that  these  societies  cannot,  or  have 
not,  in  thousands  of  instances,  become  efficient  in  pro- 
moting the  cause  of  temperance,  it  is  too  late  to  assert. 
Facts — numerous  facts  prove  to  the  contrary.  Since 
their  commencement,  and  through  tlieir  agency,  the  con- 
Bumption  of  ardent  spirit  has  greatly  diminished  in  our 
country.  It  is  upwards  of  a  year  since  it  was  ascertain- 
ed, that  more  than  a  thousand  distilleries  had  been  stop- 
ped ;  that  more  than  three  thousand  dealers  had  ceased 
the  traffic,  and  that  a  number  of  drunkards,  not  less  than 
this,  had  been  known  to  he  reformed.*  And  many  have 
been  added  to  these  since  that  time. 

Indeed  this  system,  based  as  it  is,  on  the  reciprocal  in- 
fluence that  men  exert  on  each  other  in  society^,  strongly 
recommends  itself  to  onr  adoption.  Let  all  the  friends 
of  good  order — the  friends  of  social  happiness  and  do- 
mestic peace — the  friends  of  the  rising  generation  and  of 
our  much  loved  country,  in  any  town  or  in  any  communi- 
ty, unite  their  names  and  their  influence  to  discourage  the 
manufacture,  sale  and  use  of  ardent  spirit,  and  what 
would  be  the  result?  If  those  who  traffic  in  this  article 
were  not  among  the  first  to  unite  their  influence,  they 
would  soon  follow  the  strong  current  of  popular  opinion ; 
and  thus  the  temptation  being  removed,  the  use  of  ar- 
dent spirit  would  not  be  known  but  among  the  professed- 
ly intemperate,  who  notwithstanding  the  disgrace  which 
would  attach  to  themselves  and  their  families  forever, 
have  determined  to  fall  by  their  own  hands.  And  even 
these  would  no  longer  engage  in  their  nniiallowcd  orgies 

"  Fourlli  Report  of  th«  Am.  Tern.  Socictr. 


■o>:jq^  i^ 


22 


in  the  open  face  of  day,  but  would  retire  for  their  revel* 
from  the  gaze  of  sober  men.  Thus  would  drunkenness 
be  driven  into  the  caves  and  dens  of  the  earth,  and  our 
children  would  no  longer,  as  at  present,  be  familiar  with 
the  disgusting  examples  of  the  man  degraded  to  the  bru<e. 

Who  then  will  not  unite  his  iufluence  in  favor  of  the 
cause  of  temperance?  The  father,  though  he  may  noi 
on  his  own  account  need  the  aid  of  a  temperance  society, 
by  joining,  may  nevertheless  save  his  son  from  death. — 
The  young  man,  by  joining  a  temperance  society,  may 
save  himself  from  the  sorrows  into  which  thousands  and 
tens  of  thousands,  whose  prospects  for  happiness  and 
usefulness,  were  once  as  fair  as  his,  have  plunged  them- 
selves. Or  if  he  does  it  not  for  himself,  he  may,  by  the 
influence  he  will  exert  in  so  doing,  save  his  fellow  youth 
from  drunkenness,  and  a  destruction  worse  than  an  hon- 
orable death.  The  mother,  by  uniting  her  influence, 
may  save  her  daughter  from  a  future  union  with  the 
drunkard.  And  the  fair,  those  who  are  destined  to  be- 
come the  future  matrons  of  our  country,  by  uniting  their 
names  and  influence  in  the  cause,  may  save — entirely 
save  the  next  generation  from  the  desolating  woes  of  in- 
temperance ;  so  completely  is  the  destiny  of  our  country 
lodged  in  their  hands. 

One  word  to  those  whose  call  I  have  obeyed  in  address- 
ing you  til  is  day,  and  I  am  done.  We  are  accustomed 
to  think  of  acts  of  benevolence  and  philanthropy,  as  hav- 
ing little  that  is  noble  connected  with  them,  unless  when 
directed  to  popular  objects.  It  has,  I  trust,  been  made 
to  appear,  that  the  work  in  which  you  are  engaged,  in 
common  with  multitudes  of  your  fellow  citizens,  is  one 
of  the  highest  character,  whether  considered  in  a  nation- 
al or  a  moral  point  of  view  ;  and  consequently  one,  which 
should  inspire  independence  of  feeling  as  well  as  ener- 
gy of  action.  It  is  sufficiently  evident  that  at  no  mo- 
ment of  our  country's  existence,  has  it  ever  suffered  so 
much  directly  from  the  influence  of  any  foreign  power, 
as  it  is  this  moment  suffering  from  the  influence  of  intem- 
perance. And  if  so,  however  wc  may  feel  on  the  sub- 
ject when  sitting  peacefully  by  our  fire-sides — away  from 
the  sights  and  the  sounds  of  woe — or  however  great  may 
be  the  indifference  with  which  the  enterprise  is  viewed  by 
those  .iround  ui.;   we  knov,';,  that  when  tbe  objects,  which 


2S 

are  destined  to  be  accomplished  by  the  formation  of  tern* 
perance  societies  throughout  our  country,  are  effected, 
the  day  that  gave  rise  to  them  may  with  more  propriety 
be  observed  as  the  day  of  our  national  jubilee,  than  even 
this  day,  which  we  annually  celebrate  as  the  day  of  our 
nation's  birth. 

Go  on  then  in  your  great  enterprise.  If  you  cannot 
do  all  you  would,  you  can  do  much.  Your  influence  will 
be  felt,  and  some,  even  of  the  present  generation,  shall 
be  beneiited  by  your  exertions.  Go  on  then,  and  the 
consideration  that  you  have  done  what  you  could  do, 
whether  it  be  much  or  little,  will  give  you  satisfaction, 
when  gold  becomes  dross — when  the  love  of  fame  shall 
lose  its  magic  power,  and  the  emoluments  of  oflRce  their 
charm  ;  and  when  all  the  pleasure  arising  from  the  grat- 
ification of  sense,  and  the  trifling  gains  which  result  from 
traflBc  and  speculation,  shall  sink  beneath  more  weighty 
cousiderationsi. 


